Our Executive Director and co-founder of the New South Institute (NSI), Ivor Chipkin, has recently contributed to the Global Government Forum (GGF) with an in-depth examination of potential changes in South Africa’s public service. In his article of 02 October 2023, Chipkin explores the question: “Is fundamental civil service change imminent in South Africa?”

Chipkin draws parallels between historical and contemporary policy frameworks in South Africa, focusing on institutional designs and their implications for the public service. The article delves into the nuances of political versus operational decision making, highlighting their implications for the professionalisation of the public service.

The article also refers to meetings held on 13 and 14 July, where bodies such as the Office of the Public Service Commission, the National School of Government and the Department of Public Service and Administration met to discuss the way forward for South Africa’s public service.

For a full understanding of Chipkin’s perspective and the potential trajectory of South Africa’s public service reforms, we invite you to access the full article on GGF.

It’s also worth noting that Chipkin’s participation in the July event was documented on the NSI website. As part of our collaboration with GGF, NSI contributes to a monthly column. Some of the previous issues can be found here, here and here.